Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File photo | PTI)
Kanyakumari/Chennai: After an intense and protracted campaign for the Indian Lok Sabha elections and ahead of the results, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be immersed in meditation for over 45 hours (from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1) at the ‘Meditation Mandapam’ at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, located on a rock about 400 metres off the Kanyakumari coast.
The rock is surrounded by the Laccadive Sea, where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet.
Sources said the Prime Minister will meditate throughout the day and night at the same spot where Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated decades ago.
Key security forces of PM arrive in Kanniyakumari
The Prime Minister will begin his meditation on the evening of May 30 and it is scheduled to end on the evening of June 1.
The prime minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In 2019 he visited Kedarnath and in 2014 he visited Pratapagarh, site of a battle between the Maratha forces led by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Bijapur forces led by General Afzal Khan.
Security has been stepped up in and around Kanniyakumari in view of the Prime Minister’s visit. As per the tentative plan for the visit, the Prime Minister will depart Thiruvananthapuram airport by helicopter at 3:55 pm on Thursday, May 30, and reach the Kanniyakumari helipad at 4:35 pm. He will then spend about 30 minutes at the guest house near the helipad.
The Prime Minister will then travel by road to the boat jetty and depart by boat to Vivekandand Rocks, arriving at 5:40 pm. The Prime Minister will stay there till 3 pm on Saturday, June 1, after which he will return by boat to the jetty and travel by road to the helipad. He is scheduled to depart by helicopter to Thiruvananthapuram Airport at 3:25 pm.
On Tuesday, Tirunelveli DIG Pravesh Kumar along with SP E Sundaravathanam inspected the security arrangements at Vivekananda Memorial Rock, boat jetty, helipad and State Guest House at Kanniyakumari.A meeting of officials from all departments, including health, on preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit was held at the Vivekananda Kendra premises.
The Prime Minister’s main security team has also reached the spot. A test landing of a helicopter was conducted at the helipad. Police sources said that 2,000 police personnel will be deployed in and around Kanniyakumari. The Coast Guard, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Indian Navy will step up maritime security at Kanniyakumari as the Prime Minister will be staying at the rock memorial for 45 hours.
During the Prime Minister’s stay, ICG and Indian Navy ships will be stationed in the Kanniyakumari sea area. Sources said the Prime Minister will travel to the rock memorial using Poompuhar Shipping Corporation’s Kanniyakumari Ferry Services vessel and three vessels have been readied. The Special Security Group will take a decision on all arrangements.
BJP sources said party leaders have been asked to come to the Kanniyakumari helipad only to receive the Prime Minister. All other programmes will be handled by the Prime Minister’s security detail.
May 30, 2019, Sharjah, Tennessee
According to BJP sources, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Pudukkottai on May 30. Shah is likely to have darshan at Kottai Bairaval, Shiva and Perumal temples in Thirumayam.
